Being the Hands and Feet of Jesus
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the importance of sharing each other's burdens and being the hands and feet of Jesus, as stated in Galatians 6:2. The pastor encourages the congregation to not only offer assistance but also to find resources for those in need, thereby obeying the law of Christ, which is to love God and love others. The pastor acknowledges that it can be tiring at times, but reminds the congregation of the impact they can have on others' faith journeys. The pastor then challenges the congregation to extend a helping hand through a Christmas offering to support Convoy of Hope's "One Day to Feed the World" initiative.
The pastor then emphasizes the importance of living in faith and reaching out to others in times of crisis. He encourages the congregation to have faith and trust in Jesus, who is always reaching out to help. The pastor discusses the need to identify the storms in our lives and in the lives of others, and the importance of recognizing when we are in trouble and when others need our support. The pastor encourages the congregation to pray and seek guidance from God to discern which situations they are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
The pastor then emphasizes the importance of embracing opportunities for growth and development in one's life. He encourages the congregation to identify the storms they are facing and respond to them with compassion. The pastor acknowledges that not all storms are meant for everyone, but when they see others in trouble, they should be willing to step in and offer help and support. The pastor also emphasizes the need for open communication within the church community, urging individuals to reach out for help when going through a storm and assuring them that there is a team ready to pray and provide support.
The pastor discusses the concept of faith versus fear when facing difficult situations. He emphasizes that as believers mature and grow closer to Jesus, they should strive to have faith rather than fear. The pastor shares an example of an 82-year-old man who lives with excitement and anticipation during crises, trusting in God's faithfulness. The pastor expresses a desire to grow in faith like that man. The pastor also highlights the importance of extending a helping hand to others in the midst of their storms. By offering support and encouragement, believers not only meet practical needs but also minister to the fear and offer faith and hope in Jesus.
The sermon concludes with the pastor emphasizing the importance of offering a helping hand to others in our daily lives. He challenges the notion that ministry has to be a grand, world-changing endeavor, and instead encourages the congregation to consider simple acts of kindness and compassion. The pastor acknowledges that some may be in a position to offer help, while others may be in need of it. He urges those in need to reach out to the church community for support, prayer, and love. The pastor also prays for the congregation to be like Jesus, extending compassion and being helping hands to others in the midst of life's storms.
Key Takeaways:
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of sharing each other's burdens and being the hands and feet of Jesus. As followers of Jesus, it is our responsibility to support and help one another. This is not just about offering assistance but also about finding resources for those in need. By doing so, we are obeying the law of Christ, which is to love God and love others. [01:15]
- The pastor encourages the congregation to have faith and trust in Jesus, who is always reaching out to help. He discusses the need to identify the storms in our lives and in the lives of others, and the importance of recognizing when we are in trouble and when others need our support. [15:30]
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of embracing opportunities for growth and development in one's life. He encourages the congregation to identify the storms they are facing and respond to them with compassion. Not all storms are meant for everyone, but when we see others in trouble, we should be willing to step in and offer help and support. [25:45]
- The pastor discusses the concept of faith versus fear when facing difficult situations. As believers mature and grow closer to Jesus, they should strive to have faith rather than fear. By offering support and encouragement, believers not only meet practical needs but also minister to the fear and offer faith and hope in Jesus. [35:20]
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of offering a helping hand to others in our daily lives. He challenges the notion that ministry has to be a grand, world-changing endeavor, and instead encourages the congregation to consider simple acts of kindness and compassion. He urges those in need to reach out to the church community for support, prayer, and love. [45:55]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
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1. Matthew 14:31: "Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. 'You of little faith,' he said, 'why did you doubt?'"
2. James 1:2-4: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
3. Galatians 6:2: "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
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Observation Questions:
1. In Matthew 14:31, what is Jesus' response to doubt and lack of faith?
2. What does James 1:2-4 suggest about the purpose and result of facing trials?
3. According to Galatians 6:2, what is one way to fulfill the law of Christ?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Jesus' response in Matthew 14:31 relate to our own responses when we face doubt and fear in our lives?
2. In James 1:2-4, what does it mean to consider trials as pure joy and how does this lead to maturity and completeness?
3. How can carrying each other's burdens, as mentioned in Galatians 6:2, be seen as an act of love towards God and others?
Application Questions:
1. Can you recall a recent situation where you experienced doubt or fear? How can you apply Jesus' response in Matthew 14:31 to that situation?
2. Think of a trial you are currently facing. How can you view it as an opportunity for growth and maturity, as suggested in James 1:2-4?
3. Identify someone in your life who is carrying a heavy burden. What is one specific way you can help carry their burden this week, in line with Galatians 6:2?
Devotional
Day 1: Embodying Christ's Love Through Action
As followers of Jesus, we are called to be His hands and feet, sharing each other's burdens and providing support. This is not just about offering assistance but also about finding resources for those in need. By doing so, we are obeying the law of Christ, which is to love God and love others. [01:15]
1 John 3:18 - "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."
Reflection: Reflect on your interactions this week. Can you identify a situation where you could have been the hands and feet of Jesus? How can you actively show Christ's love in that situation today?
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Day 2: Trusting Jesus in the Midst of Storms
In times of crisis, we are encouraged to have faith and trust in Jesus, who is always reaching out to help. It is important to identify the storms in our lives and in the lives of others, recognizing when we are in trouble and when others need our support. [15:30]
Psalm 107:28-29 - "Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed."
Reflection: What is a storm you are currently facing? How can you trust Jesus in this situation and reach out to others who may be facing their own storms?
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Day 3: Embracing Growth Through Compassion
We are encouraged to embrace opportunities for growth and development in our lives. Identifying the storms we are facing and responding to them with compassion is a key part of this process. Not all storms are meant for everyone, but when we see others in trouble, we should be willing to step in and offer help and support. [25:45]
James 1:2-4 - "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Reflection: What is a storm you are currently facing? How can you respond to it with compassion and use it as an opportunity for growth?
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Day 4: Choosing Faith Over Fear
As believers mature and grow closer to Jesus, we should strive to have faith rather than fear. By offering support and encouragement, we not only meet practical needs but also minister to the fear and offer faith and hope in Jesus. [35:20]
Isaiah 41:10 - "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you felt fear. How can you choose faith over fear in this situation and offer support to others who may be experiencing similar fears?
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Day 5: Offering a Helping Hand in Daily Life
We are encouraged to offer a helping hand to others in our daily lives. Ministry doesn't have to be a grand, world-changing endeavor. Simple acts of kindness and compassion can have a profound impact. Those in need are urged to reach out to the church community for support, prayer, and love. [45:55]
Hebrews 13:16 - "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
Reflection: What is one simple act of kindness you can do today to offer a helping hand to someone in your life? How can you reach out to the church community for support, prayer, and love?
Quotes
1. "Why did you doubt? We go through the storms and he's reaching out and he's not saying it condescending he's reaching for us he's wanting to help and why did you doubt how do we live in that kind of faith?" ([19:32])
2. "Let us share your burdens...if you're in a good place, this is us being the hands and feet of Jesus...let's be that hand, the hands and feet of Jesus...share each other's burdens...in this way you are obeying the law of Christ." ([27:32])
3. "I want them to get one step closer to Jesus through my interaction with them so that they would worship God...we don't want to get tired of that...we're going to extend a helping hand...we're going to do as part of our Christmas offering...if we all gave one day worth of our income to help Convoy Feed the Children who are starving in this world." ([28:42])
4. "Let's step into other people's storms... am I willing to step into their storm in faith and say God I'm going to be the hands and feet of Jesus... it's the greatest moment of my life to minister to people that way." [25:19]
5. "If you're going through the storm... don't go through the storm by yourself... if you do, you're going to find yourself like Peter, you're going to be sinking and you need someone there... Jesus is always there and now he works through the body of Christ." [26:23]
6. "Can you imagine waking up tomorrow morning find out there's a crisis and going God this is so exciting I can't wait to see what you're going to do through this... I met somebody a couple weeks ago he's there he lives like that... it's just a trust and faith thing and I'm like man I want to get to know that guy and grow like that" ([22:52])
7. "When you identify a storm, don't walk in fear, take courage... if you see others in a storm, know that we are ministering to primarily not just the need but when we extend a helping hand we're ministering to their fear and we're offering them a faith in the hope of Jesus, we're offering them courage" ([23:32])
8. "I'm telling you, you change your world by offering a helping hand to just somebody daily in your life." [32:38]
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